Though this movie is best know as a Richard Burton-Elizabeth Taylor vehicle, I wanted to watch it because it featured Margaret Rutherford's Oscar-winning role. I had previously seen the delightfully ditzy Dame (she really was a Dame) in Blithe Spirit and The Importance of Being Earnest, and she was fabulous in both, so I was eager to see her here. It was to my semi-disappointment that she was typecast for The V.I.P.s too, even if she excels at being scatterbrained. Hence her Oscar victory is more of a body of work thing, I reckon, 'coz she would've been just as deserving for the other two movies.
Anyway, the movie's reminiscent of Neil Simon's works because it's about a collection of stories about a bunch of people stuck in an airport (and subsequently the airport hotel) due to weather delays. I would have to say that the personalities overshadow the characters, what with stars like Burton, Taylor, Rutherford, and the hammy Orson Welles. It was also one of Maggie Smith's first movie roles, and already she had that... Maggie Smith-ness in her. Even if I didn't get much out of the movie plot, it was lovely to watch the collection of luminaries.
Anyway, the movie's reminiscent of Neil Simon's works because it's about a collection of stories about a bunch of people stuck in an airport (and subsequently the airport hotel) due to weather delays. I would have to say that the personalities overshadow the characters, what with stars like Burton, Taylor, Rutherford, and the hammy Orson Welles. It was also one of Maggie Smith's first movie roles, and already she had that... Maggie Smith-ness in her. Even if I didn't get much out of the movie plot, it was lovely to watch the collection of luminaries.